Daniel a



-(N0 Model.)

D. A. MGDONEL.

PROCESS 0F MANUFACTURING BROOMS. NQ. 531,055. Patented Dec. 18, 1'894. Vj @3' 17n f l Ihn/mw" Mfg-mw@ ,mwezn/mlonez y STATES;

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DANIEL` A. MCDCNEL, or DETRCIT,y MICHIGAN, AssICNoR To THE PENIN- sULAR BRooM COMPANY, CE SAME PLACE.

PROCESS oF MANUFACTURING BRooMs.

SPECIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No.-531,055, dated December 18, 1.894.

Appiicaioitriea July 8.11893. serai No. 479.965. (No specimens.)

.To wZZ. whom t may concern,.-

Be it known that I, DANIEL A. MCDONEL, a

' citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Processes of. Manufacturing Brooms, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to an improved method of manufacturing brooms and it consists in the several steps hereinafter described and definitely pointed out in .the claim.

lIn the drawings, Figure 1 is an enlarged elevation of a stalk of broom corn. Fig. 2 is an enlargedgelevation of one of the stems secured to the stalk. Figs, 4., 5, 6, 7 and 8 are diagram views illustrating the different steps in the manufacture of the broom. Fig. 9 is a cross section on line .fr a; in Fig. 7. K

In' the present state of the art there are many different methods employed in manufacturing brooms, but so far as I am aware in all methods heretofore used the Astalk is evened or butted as it is called, at the butt of the stems or stalks. The effect of this is to make the tips or point of the broom` uneven and to even it up. In finishing the broom, it is trimmed off.` The effect of this is illustrated in Fig. 2. Suppose the stems A A (each of which representsone of the stems growing from the stalk B and separated therefrom in any desired manner) are evened at the butts as shown, and then the corn is cut off on the line C C, it is evident that the fine thread-like stems D on the stem A will be available for use at the end of the broom, but that the large stiff stem D of the stem Awill also form an element in the sweeping end of the broom. Now it is well known that the tine thread-like stems or branches at the end of the main stem are especially advantageous in sweeping, and if these f branches can be preserved as nearly as possible in their entirety it not only adds to the practical utility of the broom but also adds to the bushiness of the end of the broom, which is one point of superiority liked by buyers. I

.In forming the broom I utilize a/brush which is formed by first sorting or evening the stalks to the'point, as shownv in Fig. 3in which I have shown a number of stalks of corn in a bunch butted at the points against a board or other dat surface E. When thus butted they are put under a lsuitable knife and the butts are trimmed, say upon the line F, leaving the longest corn of a greater length than is required for the nished broom.

In cutting the corn upon the line F many of the fibers or branches originally secured to the stalk will be severed therefrom. The corn thus trimmed I next even or butt to the points again which will move the shortened bers down, so that the tine branches or bifurcations at the end on all the stems will be bunched at the point, as shown in Fig. 4, the butts being uneven. thus evened to the length desired for use cutting it on the line G in Fig. 4. The corn is now ready' to be made *into a broom. The corn for the Covering of the broom is necessarily somewhat longer than the corn for the body. After the material for the brush has been arranged for use, I secure the cover to the handle with the points extending upward thereon. To do this I secure the lower yend H of the handle I in any suitable clamp J and bind on near the end a suitable handful K of corn, by means of a binding wire L. When thus secured in position I trim down the edges to form a substantially square shoulder M. f

I am aware that coverings for brooms have before been secured with the points extending up the handle, but Ibelieve I am the first tosecure the covering corn thus, as the rst 'step of securing the corn to the handle and then'trimming it down to the squared shoulder, as shown at M, against Which the squared shoulder on the body N may abut and make a good joint between the two.

The body N I preferably manufacture and attach in the following manner: A handful of corn of suitable size, trimmed as described and butted or evened at the butts is placed in a U-shaped staple or binding wire O, the ends of which are then bent down, as shown in Fig. 9 and secured by a staple P to the handle, forming a suitable rectangular body, the

I next trim the'corn..

ICO

upper squared end of which abuts against ing the body to the handle below the butts, the lower shoulder M of the covering. The and nally securing the covering over the covering is then turned down over the butt, body, substantially as described.

as shown in Fig. 9 by any suitable means and In testimony whereof I aix my signature in 5 the broom is sewed in the usual manner. presence of two witnesses.

What I claim as my invention is- The method of forming brooms 'consisting DANIEL A MCDONET" in securing the covering to a handle at apoint Vitnesses: above the lower end thereof, and with the M. B. ODOGHERTY,

1o butts presented downward and evened, secur- OTTO F. BARTHEL. 

